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Don’t add a tax on medicine

Published: Friday, May 28, 2010 at 12:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 28, 2010 at 12:32 p.m.

The Louisiana Oncology Society comprises oncology physicians, mid-level health-care providers and practice administrators throughout Louisiana. One of our primary objectives is to respond to the legislative and fiscal challenges of our member jurisdiction and to oppose direct and indirect threats to the well-being of our patients and their access to community cancer care.

A House committee this week took the first step toward eliminating an onerous tax that will be detrimental to physicians, patients and the state’s health-care delivery system. At a time when the state is in dire need of more physicians to come into Louisiana to treat our medically underserved community, some local jurisdictions are choosing to levy a tax on drugs administered in physicians’ offices. We already pay our part for the services provided by local governments, and we provide medical care for those who need it. We understand that everyone, including parish government, is hurting in this economy, but so are we. Our practices are reeling from the effects of the federal government’s Medicare reimbursement reductions. We have been forced to close satellite offices, reduce staff, postpone investing in new technology and have had to change the way we practice medicine by factoring economic decisions into cancer-treatment plans. An additional financial deficit levied at the local level will only cause additional problems in delivering cancer care to our patients. Our practices operate as small businesses. When it becomes a financial disincentive to stock some medications, patients may have to be referred to some of the area hospitals that are not assessed this tax.

The medications are administered to patients with cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and other debilitating diseases — and must be given in doctors’ offices. The state does not tax these medications.

Please ask your representatives to support House Bill 1404, which seeks to correct this situation by removing the burden of a tax on medications administered in doctors’ offices.

<p>The Louisiana Oncology Society comprises oncology physicians, mid-level health-care providers and practice administrators throughout Louisiana. One of our primary objectives is to respond to the legislative and fiscal challenges of our member jurisdiction and to oppose direct and indirect threats to the well-being of our patients and their access to community cancer care. </p><p>A House committee this week took the first step toward eliminating an onerous tax that will be detrimental to physicians, patients and the state's health-care delivery system. At a time when the state is in dire need of more physicians to come into Louisiana to treat our medically underserved community, some local jurisdictions are choosing to levy a tax on drugs administered in physicians' offices. We already pay our part for the services provided by local governments, and we provide medical care for those who need it. We understand that everyone, including parish government, is hurting in this economy, but so are we. Our practices are reeling from the effects of the federal government's Medicare reimbursement reductions. We have been forced to close satellite offices, reduce staff, postpone investing in new technology and have had to change the way we practice medicine by factoring economic decisions into cancer-treatment plans. An additional financial deficit levied at the local level will only cause additional problems in delivering cancer care to our patients. Our practices operate as small businesses. When it becomes a financial disincentive to stock some medications, patients may have to be referred to some of the area hospitals that are not assessed this tax.</p><p>The medications are administered to patients with cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and other debilitating diseases — and must be given in doctors' offices. The state does not tax these medications.</p><p>Please ask your representatives to support House Bill 1404, which seeks to correct this situation by removing the burden of a tax on medications administered in doctors' offices. </p><p>Dr. Donna Walker</p><p>President, Louisiana Oncology Society</p><p>Shreveport</p>